bobbling hammers-1993 Kranich&Bach

[Lance Lafargue]

Thanks Rob,
Did you just decide on one capstan location that worked, plugged the holes,
run a straight line down the keys, drill on a drill press, and screw the
capstans back in?  How long did it take?  If I may ask, what did you charge
for this.  I've never done it.  I appreciate the "Been there" help.  
Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

----------
> From: atonal@planet.eon.net
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: bobbling hammers-1993 Kranich&Bach
> Date: Friday, February 06, 1998 1:51 AM
> 
> > From:          DGPEAKE@aol.com
> > Date:          Wed, 4 Feb 1998 23:50:30 EST
> > To:            pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject:       Re: bobbling hammers-1993 Kranich&Bach
> > Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org
> 
> >  Dear List,
> >  I GIVE UP!  I've been trying to help a customer of mine who bought a
cheap
> >  Kranich & Bach (made in Europe, 1993, sold by Baldwin) 42" upright. 
This
> >  piano had double striking or bobbling hammers when I first saw it.  To
be
> >  brief and to the point; I added let-off distance and dip, still some
> >  bobbling on soft blows, added more, still bobbling at times, then I
added
> >  key height/dip, adjusted checking, and unless you are VERY deliberate
and
> >  get to the very end of each key stroke, IT STILL DOES IT occasionally.
> >  Maker won't help, they said (basically) that's what you get for buying
a
> >  cheap piano.  Now, the piano is no fun to play and you still get the
> >  occasional bobble if you're not careful.  
> > 
> >  I have come across this problem hundreds of times over the years and
have
> >  always been able to regulate it out, but I can't seem to get this one
to
> >  stop without regulating it out of the comfort zone.  I remember some
> >  Samicks and Yamahas in the low tenor had this problem due to the angle
of
> >  the surface on the butt where the jack contacts.  Any ideas?  Thanks
very
> >  much!
> >  Lance Lafargue, RPT
> >  New Orleans Chapter
> >  Covington, LA.
> > 
> 
> Lance, 
> 	
> 	First off, these Kranich Backaches are Chinese-made, with all kinds 
> of wonderful promises made inside regarding Dehonit pinblocks 
> (doesn't sound like Delignit does it?) Royal George felt hammers, and 
> German Scale designers. Remember the early '80's Samicks to hit the 
> continent..... they looked awfully familiar. 
> 	Secondly, you're not gonna get these to regulate into the "comfort 
> zone" because as far as I can tell, they were never intentionally 
> designed that way. However, I have had some luck pulling, plugging 
> and re-drilling key capstans, as I find that they are usually 
> installed (crookedly, I might add) too far back in relationship to 
> the wippen heel. Two problems arise out of the stock capstan 
> arrangement: 1) Touch is incredibly heavy 2) Regulation is a 
> nightmare i.e.: bobbling hammers, no aftertouch, excessive keydip 
> (you can lose fingers  between keys if you're not careful) not to 
> mention sluggish key return. Once you have centered the capstans 
> under the wippen heel, I found that regulation began to fall into 
> place. I had to compromise on excessive key dip to gain some 
> aftertouch, but at least the $%^#@ thing would catch the hammers 
> regularly.  I have moved a set of capstans and re-regulated and 
> billed Baldwin for the work, they paid, but in the form of a dealer 
> credit (as I work for a Baldwin dealer). No problems there, as long 
> as this is understood by the dealer. 
> 
> No Fun 8-(  
> 
> Been There, 
> Rob Kiddell, 
> Registered Piano Technician, PTG
> atonal@planet.eon.net